LoFi

I don’t think OP’s issue is low-fi vs hi-fi. It is the wrong approach of hifi, which focuses on some soundstage, separation and how things are spread out in it, pinpointing whatever. It makes an analytical mind go crazy, takes you out the music.

About a month ago, i watched an orchestra in a grand acoustical hall, not too far from where i live. There was not even a remote instance of not being fully enveloped immersed in the music, almost transcendental, while watching a dense orchestra.

To do that type of envelopment and immersion at home (that shuts down the analytical mind) at home, one may need to resort to some atmos/multichannel/object based audio....I recall 10 years ago, it was the classical guys who were switching over first. But, of course, it requires a larger space, more expense, setup complexity, etc.

Or the other extreme is to get a bluetooth boombox or transitor radio to completely kill all expectations and lower standards drastically... so it becomes enjoyable again.

I strongly suggest that you stick with lo-fi to avoid any dissatisfaction when switching back to hi-fi. Like my son (no kidding), he enjoys lofi much better. My best half also enjoys WQXR better than anything else.

deep_333,

You know, I’m actually thinking of something like that. I realize how much music I’ve been missing, and how much I’m enjoying music now, and how this hobby has corrupted my senses.

It seems a shame after all the dedication and expense I’ve invested to dump everything and start over. But this Hifi addiction has been ingrained in me for so many years it seems almost impossible to break. I’ll have to find some solution that includes both listening methods but not at the same time.
Or, break the addiction. (Not likely.)

I recently got a WiiM Amp for the bedroom.  It feeds a pair of old NHT floorstanders.  The loudspeaker positioning is determined entirely by practical room considerations and not by sound quality.  There are no room treatments.  The source material is uncompressed AIFF files on a USB thumb drive.  It's not high end sound, but it's thoroughly enjoyable.

Previous to the WiiM streamer/amplifier I tried playing the USB files through a Sony soundbar.  It was listenable, but not very enjoyable.  Too much of the music was stripped from the sound.

I call my hi-fi system "The lab". It has nothing to do with music. I just like playing with gear and see it sounds.

I’ll never forget my first experience with modern hi-fi. It was Monitor Audio Silver and Creek electronics. "I’m hearing too much" was my reaction. But isn’t that what hi-fi is all about, high fidelity? If you’re not spending a lot of money on high-fidelity, then what ARE you spending it on?

Sure, you can spend 100K if you want to fill a large room with high volume, full range sound. But that is not necessarily better sound.

I remember what Elizabeth said about high-end. It should sound like a boom box but better. Hopefully much, much better.

It occurs to me that no one on this forum is in it for the music only no matter what is said.
After all it’s called Audio gon.

There are plenty of other music sites.